Akpoborie Tips Eaglets For Trophy By Raymond Nwaduba As the under-17 national team, Golden Eaglets go out for their first match of this year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup, against holders, Mexico, a member of the historic maiden edition winning squad of China ‘85, Jonathan Akpoborie has tipped the current squad to follow suit and emerge champions on November 8. The enterprising striker, who went on to star for Nigeria at full senior level and played for several top clubs in Germany said in an interview with SportsDay that he is optimistic that the Eaglets can re-enact Nigeria’s treble feats of winning the competition in 1985, 1993 and 1997. The former Hansa Rostock, VfB Stuttgart and VfL Wolfsburg of Germany star noted that the team has prepared very well for the competition and he expects them to rise up to the occasion by going all the way to the final of the competition and eventually win the cup. The one fondly called ‘Jonnie’ during his playing days opined that the Eaglets have put behind them the problem of MRI scans and believes they can now concentrate on winning this year’s tournament in UAE because the squad is good enough. As the Eaglets get ready to play in Group F alongside defending champions, Mexico, Sweden and Iraq, Akpoborie says the squads they are coming up against do not make any difference to his verdict because, according to him, opponents are opponents and he insist there will not be any problem for the youngsters to dispatch all comers. While noting that Nigeria’s current cadet national team is blessed with a good strike force, which he says is the exact requirement to do well at the age-grade level, Akpoborie ruled out any chance of Mexico upsetting the Eaglets in today’s opening match. “I think the team has prepared well and the problem of the MRI is behind them now, so I expect them to win because the team is good enough. “We have won the trophy before so that is not a problem. Besides, I believe the team’s attack is very good and at that level, thats what you need most,” he submitted.
Posted on: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 17:16:42 +0000
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